Upper cervical chiropractic doctors are no strangers to dealing with misinformation. That's because the internet has paved the way for myths and misconceptions to spread faster. Sadly, this often leads to challenges in dealing with conditions or symptoms. Do you happen to experience the same problem because of migraine myths? Start managing your migraine attacks better by crushing misinformation and learning the top 8 migraine myths and the latest facts and statistics that disprove them.
While this might be true for a few people, statistics dispute this myth because as many as 4 million people around the globe experience chronic migraine episodes. Sadly, the number continues to grow because people who experience episodic attacks (no more than 15 episodes a month) eventually develop chronic symptoms.
If this myth was true, upper cervical chiropractic doctors and other healthcare professionals won't suggest keeping a migraine journal. Studies have long proven that migraineurs have varying triggers. For example, some migraineurs develop an aversion to certain scents, while others notice worse migraine attacks due to their sensitivity to nuts or dairy products.
As a result, it’s imperative to keep track of migraine triggers and notice how they impact your episodes and overall health. Here’s a list of the most commonly reported triggers:
It would be best to look out for products that trigger migraine episodes like caffeinated drinks, MSG, aspartame, and sodium-rich food items. We also strongly suggest keeping track of food sensitivities because an allergic response can significantly increase the risks of having severe migraines.
A significant fraction of the population assumes that headaches and migraines are the same. As a result, many people downplay the severity of migraine symptoms.
In truth, migraines are more than just typical headaches. As a complex neurological condition, migraines can set off a long list of health complaints, including:
While migraine can cause severe pain to affected individuals, it rarely poses risks on its own. However, recent research explains that frequent migraine attacks can lead to brain lesions or increase your susceptibility to an ischemic stroke.
Hence, if you notice symptoms that are out of the ordinary, upper cervical chiropractic doctors recommend seeking urgent medical attention.
Because migraine triggers differ from one patient to another, the symptoms and severity of an episode can also vary a lot. This happens because migraines can come in several forms. For example, if you have a migraine with aura, you will likely experience visual symptoms like blurry eyesight or tunnel vision before and during the episode. On the other hand, if you have a silent migraine, you won’t notice headaches but experience vestibular problems like vertigo and loss of balance.
It’s crucial to know what specific type of migraine you experience to know which warning signs to look out for and what you can do moving forward. Below are the most common types of migraine attacks that affect millions of adults in the USA:
Have you ever heard about silent migraines? Chances are, you’ve experienced this condition yourself. However, you didn’t notice it because of the absence of a crippling headache – the hallmark symptom of a typical migraine attack.
It’s crucial to note that while silent migraines don’t set off headaches that leave you curled up in bed, they can still cause disability. That’s because silent migraines can affect your vestibular organs. This can affect your balance perception and increase your chances of slipping, tripping, or falling.
Additionally, silent migraines can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, and weakness. So, similar to regular migraine attacks, a silent migraine episode can also cause severe disruptions to your life.
Women migraineurs outnumber male patients. Additionally, women tend to suffer worse symptoms than men who have frequent migraine attacks.
However, this doesn’t suggest that only women experience crippling effects on their health. In truth, a significant number of male migraineurs note chronic episodes that prevent them from going to work or doing simple things at home. Harvard Health reports that about 7 percent of males in the USA experience severe migraine episodes.
Because the root of a migraine attack remains a mystery, many believe that it’s impossible to get rid of the symptoms with the help of alternative healthcare remedies such as upper cervical chiropractic care. In truth, however, case studies have found a strong connection between postural imbalances in the cervical spine and the onset of neurological conditions like migraine attacks.
Studies found that misalignments in the upper cervical bones (C1 and C2) can profoundly affect various physiological functions, including blood circulation to the head, cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and nerve signal transmission. Notably, these things can contribute to the onset of a recurring migraine attack.
If you suspect having postural imbalances in your cervical region, we suggest consulting with the nearest upper cervical chiropractic doctor. This might help you understand why you frequently experience migraines and dispel common misconceptions that prevent you from experiencing lasting relief.
Contact a nearby upper cervical chiropractic doctor to learn more about the value of proper posture for migraine relief.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.